Eritrean “Opposition” Turn to Violence Seeking Attention

Eritrean “Opposition” Turn to Violence Seeking Attention
When people mention Eritrean opposition groups, for most Eritreans and neutral observers, the Ethiopian regime quickly comes to mind. Yet, even with the support of TPLF, Eritrean opposition groups remain highly fragmented along regional, ethnic, religious, and ideological parameters. Because of their numerous divisions and alarming ties with Addis Ababa, they have failed to gain any real support from Eritreans.Despite their differences, one area the opposition has thrived in is the internet. The Digital Age has provided them an opportunity to stay visible, even as their followers in the real world continue to dwindle. One group that has seized this opportunity is the Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (EYSC). EYSC is perhaps the most visible cyber opposition group to date. The group gained distinction after its creators used a controversial Facebook feature that lets users add friends to groups without their consent. This deceptive method was preferred after the group originally launched a FB page, in which members were required to “like” the page to join, had less than 60 participants.Launched on Feb 14, 2011 by Solomon Assefaw, a 42-year-old Oakland resident, EYSC is a copycat group inspired by the Egyptian revolution. Although it claims to be a youth organization, the overwhelmingly majority of its members are middle-aged men between the ages of 40-65. The group says its mission is to create  ”cyber-demonstration” against the Eritrean administration, with the objective of mobilizing youth inside Eritrea to “rise up” against their government. Most Eritreans, however, see the groups’ objective differently.Since repackaging themselves as a youth movement in 2011, the group has increasingly used deceit, intimidation, vandalism, violence and terrorism as tools to accomplish their political objectives. As a result, several leading members of EYSC are being investigated by authorities in their host countries for alleged crimes involving harassment, theft, vandalism, arson, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit murder against Eritreans in the diaspora.The following information are just a few of the crimes committed by this group within the last 12 months:On January 31, 2013, Solomon Assefaw (the self-proclaimed vice-chairmen of EYSC and co-founder of the Facebook group), along with Fitsum A. Ghebreegziabher, aka Fitsum Arefaine and Bemnet Mesfen, were found guilty in a California Superior Court for vandalizing the Eritrean Community Cultural Civic Center (ECCCC) in Oakland. The courtroom also ordered the three men to pay restitution to the ECCCC for the damages they caused and court fees associated with the case.Just last week, a dozen EYSC men rushed into an Eritrean restaurant in Zurich, Switzerland and started trashing their furniture and attacking their customers. Two Eritreans suffered head injuries and bruises and needed medical attention. The EYSC members caused several thousand francs in damages to the restaurant. So far, Swiss authorities have apprehended three suspects in connection with the crime.Even senior fighters of the Eritrean revolution have been targets of this increasingly violent group. On Saturday, January 14, 2012, former freedom fighter and popular Eritrean musician Estifanos Abraham (Zemach), who lost his limb fighting for Eritrea’s independence, was assaulted and beaten severely by a small gang of EYSC members in Switzerland. He spent a week in a Zurich hospital recovering from his injuries.
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